Car-coupling.



No. 637,099. Patented Nov. |4, |899.

v. ERBADH. GAR COUPLING.

[Application filed Apr. 4, 1899., (No Model.)

A TTOHNEYS.

. 1 UNITED- STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

VALENTINE ERBAGH, OF SGRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA;

CAR-COUPLING.

SFEGIFIGAT ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 6373099, dated November 14, 1899- Applicatlon filed. April 4, 1899. Serial No. 711,704;- (No model.)

and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the fol-' lowing is a full, clear,'and exact description.

The object of the invention is to so construct the car-coupler that a one-piece draw-head will present all the advantages of a drawhead of the pivoted-knuckle type and to provide the draw-head with fixed knuckles adapted to interlock with similar knuckles upon the opposing draw-head.

Another object of the invention is to provide the draw-head with a pin capable of being operated automatically during the act of coupling and adapted for use in connection with a link when desirable.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the pin and locate it upon the drawhead that an uncoupling can be readily effected even when there is little or no slack.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as Will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 isafront elevation of the improved coupler. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the coupler, the coupling-pin being in side elevation; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of opposing engaging couplers, one being shown in positive lines and the other in dotted lines.

A represents the sill of a car, and B a guide attached to the sill, being adapted to receive the draw-bar O of a draw-head D. The drawhead is provided with a chamber 10, open at the front, the wall of the chamber being curved to a greater or a less extent, and at one side of the said chamber a horn 11 is formed, that extends from top to bottom of said draw-head, and the inner face of the horn forms a continuation of the chamber at that side of the draw-head, while at the opposite side of the draw-head a series of inwardly-curved knuckles 12 is located. The knuckles are one above the other and are contracted or substantially pointed at their inner ends, and the inner ends of the knuckles practically face the horn 11. Two or more knuckles may be employed, three being shown in the form of coupler illustrated.

A vertical projection 13 is formed upon the upper face of the draw-head at the rear wall, which projection extends from a point near the knuckle side of the chamber 10 to a point beyond the center of said chamber, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The inner face of the projection-13 is flush with the rear face of the draw-head chamber 10, and the said projection is provided with an inclined surface 14, extending from the highest point of the projection or a point near the knuckle side of the draw-head chamber downwardly toward the center of the said chamber, where the said inclined surface 14 meets a straight or horizontal surface 15, as is also shown in Fig. 1. An opening .16 is vertically produced in the draw-head, at the center thereof, and at the rear of the projection 13 two or more horizontal openings or recesses 17 and 18 are made in the rear wall of the draw-head chamber, adapted to receive an end of a link when a link is to be used. f

The coupling-pin E is in the form of an inverted U, comprising two parallel vertical members 19 and 20 and an upper connecting member 21, said upper connecting member 21 being provided with an eye 22 near what may be termed the forward Vertical member of the pin. The rear vertical member of the coupling-pin is passed through the opening in the draw-head, crossing the link-receiving recesses 17 and 18, and these-link-receiving recesses 17 and 18 are opposite the spaces between the knuckles 12 on the draw-head, as shown in Fig. 2. When the coupling-pin is thus pivoted in the draw-head, the outer or forward member 20 of said pin may be moved in the arc of a circle within the chamber 10.

A link 23 is attached to the eye 22 of the coupling-pin, and the link is connected with a crank-arm 24, attached to a pivoted rod 25 above the sill A of the car for the purpose of.

raising the coupling-pin and swinging the for ward vertical member of said pin in direction of the side of the draw-head chamber where the knuckles are located. To that end the crank-arm 2 1 is at one side of the center of the draw-head and over the projection 13.

In operation the coupling-pin isnormally in the position shown in positive lines in the drawings, or crossing the'spaces between the knuckles and engaging with the inner faces of the knuckles near their reduced or outer ends. \Vhen a coupling is to be effected, the two draw-heads are brought together, and the pin of one drawhead is preferablyraised and carried to the dotted position shown in Fig. 3-namely, at one side of the chamber 10. The knuckles of the draw-head having its pin carried to one side will engage with the pin that is in its normal position in the opposing draw-head, and since the 'pin in its normal position is slightly diagonally placed in the draw-head chamber the knuckles entering the chamber will force the front member of the pin to one side and cause the pin to ride up the inclined surface 14 on the top of the drawhead to the upper portion of said surface, at which time the forward member of the coupling-pin will be in engagement with the wall of the chamber 10 adjacent to the knuckles, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. The knuckles thus pass the outer member of the pin and assume the interlocking position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the pin will slide down the incline 14 and will find its normal position-namely, with its front member between the opposing faces of the opposing knuckles of the coupled draw-heads.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated in broken lines a link 26, showing said link as being held in the draw-head by the front member 20 of the coupling-pin, and it will be understood that when necessary the link 26 may be made to enter either of the recesses 17 or 18, and when so entered the rear member of the couplingpin will pass through the said link. When a link is in a recess 17 or 18, the outer end portion of. the link is adapted to receive the front member of the pin of an opposing draw-head.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A draw-head provided with inwardlycurved fixed knuckles at one side, a pin provided with two members, one of which is pivoted in the draw-head, the other being adapted for movement in the draw-head chamber to and from the knuckles, and a rest for the upper portion of the pin,- one portion of said rest being inclined, whereby the pin when raised and drawn to one side will travel up the inclined surface, as set forth.

2. A draw-head provided with a series of inwardly-curved fixed knuckles at one side, the knuckles being in vertical alinement, an inverted-U-shaped coupling-pin having one of its vertical members pivoted at the rear portion of the draw-head, its other vertical member being adapted for movement in the draw-head, the entire pin being capable of withdrawal from the draw-head, a rest for the connecting member of said pin, said rest being provided with a fiat surface and an inclined surface connecting therewith, and a device for lifting said pin, connected with the pin near the upper portion of the member having movement in the draw-head chamber, as and for the purpose specified.

3. A draw-head provided with a curved chamber at the front, a vertical horn at one side of said chamber, and aseries of inwardlycurved knuckles at the opposite side of the chamber, the chamber of the draw-head being provided with an extension at its upper edge near the knuckle side, said extension having an inclined upper edge and a horizontal edge meeting the inclined edge, an inverted-U- shaped coupling-pin, one vertical member whereof is pivoted in the draw-head at the rear of the projection from said chamber, the other vertical member of the coupling-pin be ing free to move in the draw-head chamber and the entire pin being capable of withdrawal from the draw-head, and a lifting device attached to the connecting member of said pin adjacent to the forward vertical member thereof, as specified.

4. The combination, of a draw-head having an inclined upper surface and a connecting straight surface, the two surfaces being located at the rear upper portion of the drawhead chamber, a U -shaped pin capable of vertical movement and having its connecting member extending over the said projection on the draw head and its vertical members mounted one to turn in the draw-head and the other to have lateral movement in the draw-head chamber, said pin being provided with means for attachment toa lifting device, said means being located on the connecting member adjacent to the vertical member within the draw-head, as specified.

VALENTINE ERBACH.

Witnesses:

M. L. BLAIR, GEO. WATERS, Jr. 

